Woman uses AirTags to nab alleged parcel-pinching scum

Theft of packages is an ongoing problem, so one California woman tried a high tech solution to the problem – and her use of Apple’s consumer-grade AirTags tracking devices led to two arrests.

According to the sheriff's office in Santa Barbara County, California, two suspects were apprehended last week on suspicion of stealing mail. One of their victims, having become sick of losing incoming items, decided to try a novel approach: she sent herself an Apple AirTag – Cupertino’s consumer-grade tracking device – and followed its movements.

According to the police, the package – once it failed to arrive at its intended destination – was tracked to a private home in the Californian town of Santa Maria. Officers entered the property and found mail addressed to over a dozen people not at that address – including a package containing the missing AirTag.

"The suspects are identified as 27-year-old Virginia Franchessca Lara from Santa Maria and 37-year-old Donald Ashton Terry from Riverside," local police revealed.

"Lara was booked at the Northern Branch Jail for felonies including possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, fictitious checks, identity theft, credit card theft and conspiracy. She is being held on $50,000 bail. Terry was booked at the Northern Branch Jail for felonies including burglary, possession of checks with intent to commit fraud, credit card theft, identity theft, and conspiracy. He was also booked on several theft related warrants from Riverside County. He is being held on $460,000 bail."

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While the sheriff's department isn't commenting beyond its statement, it appears the victim set up her own AirTag account before mailing the device. While she was praised for getting law enforcement involved, things don't always work out so smoothly – one Vulture here in San Francisco had a similar issue when their tagged bike was stolen, but police declined to pursue the matter.

AirTags can also have more nefarious applications. Apple is facing numerous lawsuits from stalking victims who claim jealous exes used the devices to track them. In one case, a woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison after using an AirTag to track down a target before running him over with her car.

AirTags and similar devices are readily available and have been an ideal tool for stalkers – until the industry took action.

Following protests from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and others, Apple and Google agreed to make their tracking devices more transparent by establishing a standard protocol to find out if you have one secreted in your home or vehicle without your knowledge. Tile and other manufacturers of similar devices are also joining in. ®